Council passes interim budget

Alicia Biosson
South Peace News

High Prairie Town Council approved their 2007 Interim Budget on Dec. 20 during their regular council meeting. High Prairie Town treasurer Sarah Bittner says according to the Municipal Government Act the Interim Budget is only acting as a guide. “The 2007 budget will not be finalized until later in the spring when the assessment information is provided by the provincial government,” says Bittner. “At that time, council can complete the final details on the 2007 budget and the mill rate for property taxes can be set.” The good news for town residents, says Bittner, is she doesn’t forecast an increase in the mill rate. “In order to create the interim budget I used assessments from 2006 and factored in a slight increase, so I don’t see there being any increase in the mill rate,” adds Bittner. As for a decline in the mill rate, Town Manager Larry Baran says council will make the decision after the assessments have been announced. The capital budget was temporarily set at $1,023,000 and the operating budget is also temporarily set at $6 million. “The capital budget includes several important projects, such as an upgrade to the radio system for the fire departments, replacing some public works equipment, new curb and gutter work in the community, a river crossing for the new hospital, a water treatment plant upgrade as well as completing more infrastructure replacement and paving in the community,” explains Baran. “There was a number of infrastructure projects that were rejected and that could be revised in the final budget, but there is also some projects that were approved in the interim budget that could be dropped.” Included in the $6 million operating budget is a seven per cent increase in the salaries for town staff. “Recognizing that there was a 3.7 per cent increase in the cost of living last year, council wanted this reflected in a 2007 wage and salary increase,” says Baran. “Further, council had agreed last year to complete pay grid adjustments over a two-year period starting in 2006.”

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